Assessment of Vertigo and Dizziness in Individuals Following COVID-19

Istanbul Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital296 enrolled

Overview

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of dizziness/vertigo in individuals following COVID-19 and to investigate potential risk factors associated with these symptoms. A total of 296 patients aged 20-66 years who had recovered from COVID-19 were evaluated at Istanbul Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital between June 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021. Clinical and demographic data, including COVID-19 history, comorbidities, and symptom characteristics, were collected. Dizziness-related disability was assessed using the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), while balance performance was evaluated with the Berg Balance Scale (BBS).

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

296

Conditions

COVID-19

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 20 YearsMax age: 66 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Individuals aged 20-66 years. * History of confirmed COVID-19 infection. * Ability to speak and understand Turkish. * Willingness to provide verbal and written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Pre-existing vertigo or balance disorders (e.g., benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Ménière's disease, vestibular migraine, vestibular neuritis). * Inner ear diseases or vestibular dysfunction. * Neurological disorders affecting balance (e.g., multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, history of stroke, epilepsy). * Psychiatric conditions that could cause dizziness (e.g., anxiety, panic attacks, depression). * History of head or neck trauma in the past six months. * Moderate to severe visual impairment. * Chronic alcohol or substance use. * Use of ototoxic medications. * Severe cardiovascular diseases (e.g., orthostatic hypotension, advanced heart failure, severe arrhythmias). * Pregnant or breastfeeding women. * Acute infection other than COVID-19 in the past three months. * Severe COVID-19 requiring hospitalization

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Dizziness Handicap Inventory

Prevalence of dizziness/vertigo in individuals following COVID-19, assessed using the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI). Range: 0-100 (Higher scores indicate greater dizziness-related disability).

Time frame: 0 day

Secondary Outcomes

Berg Balance Scale (BBS)

Balance status evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Range: 0-56 (Higher scores indicate better balance)